4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[dogmad]

We have now built our permanent chicken run, this is on a concrete base. Although it has a roof over it, the floor still manages to get wet due to rain seeping in from underneath.

 

Is this OK, not actually tried the run with any wood chippings in yet so not sure how damp the whole thing will get.

 

I tried running some sealant around the edges last night but due to the weather at the moment I can't get the floor dry enough for it to stick!

 

Does anybody else suffer from this problem?

 

Thanks

 

Debbie

[moomin]

Yes!! We have our run on loose paving slabs on top of our patio. They are very close together but the rain still seeps up through the cracks. Very annoying.

 

We have Aubiose in the run, quite a thick layer which can look dry on top but wet underneath due to the rain seeping through!

 

If anyone has any ideas as to how to get round this they would be most welcome to me too!!

[Yolky]

I am interested in the answer to this too.....

[ruth1]

Me to, the same thing happens to me

[Stevie]

Its called rising damp.Unless you're prepared to put a damp proof membrane under the slabs/concrete-it will continue to happen.This is why builders have to put polythene onto the ground before the concrete for flooring is poured.Damp will always try to go upwards and concrete wont stop it.

 

You can retro fix it though by using a sealant like Thompsons water seal,but the concrete will need to be very clean beforehand.

 

For the slabs-grout inbetween and again seal with Thompsons.

[Yolky]

Stevie mine is fine under the slabs it is coming in at the sides of the run at the bottom where the run meets the slabs, if you see what I mean.

[SAB]

In general mine has been fine - shower curtains on top of run, slabbed base, hemcore on it. Sometimes depending on direction of rain and wind the hemcore has got wet but ususally dries quickly. However... we seem to be in some sort of monsoon at present and the run is a sludgy mess at present, though it does not seem to be bothering the hens.

[Stevie]

Stevie mine is fine under the slabs it is coming in at the sides of the run at the bottom where the run meets the slabs, if you see what I mean.

 

ah-in that case,simply lift the run off the slab base and put a huge bead of framing sealant under the frame then lower it back down so it squishes it.Then you should have a water tight seal.You will need exterior grade silicone remember.

 

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/33425/Sealants-Adhesives/Sealants/Frame-Sealants/No-Nonsense-Exterior-Frame-Sealant-White-310ml

[Yolky]

Thanks for that Stevie, very helpful

[moomin]

Thanks Stevie, that's very good advice. Might have to get one of those damp-proof membrane thingys! Can't imagine my husband wanting to grout the chicken slabs as he's just done same to more than 150 on our patio!!

[Yolky]

I said to my husband about the membrain idea but he thought it would hinder drainage when cleaning the run.

[dancing cloud]

My Cube and run (with bedding in the run for the girls to play in during the day) are in a concrete-slab yard and when it rains as heavily as it has done recently, the bedding does get wet underneath. The top stays dry, and so far I have just left it, but if it all got very wet I would have to rake out the beddng and start again.

 

Won't winter be fun? (not!)

[SAB]

Oh dancing cloud - I have currently been raking out horrible wet hemcore due to our recent torrential rain - half done - taking well earned break before continuing - aaaargh!!!

[dancing cloud]

Oh dear SAB - many sympathies - it hasn't been as terrible for me so far. If it gets bad, either I can look at all that raking as part of my winter "keep fit" programme, or I can just let the easibed/aubiose get thoroughly soaked and tell the hens to grow webbed feet . Maybe provide them with a lifeboat for monsoon days ...

 

At least now they get to play out in the garden when I get home and at weekends, but in winter they'll have gone to bed by the time I get home.